button-down

[ buht-n-doun ]

adjective

1. (of a shirt collar) having buttonholes so it can be buttoned to the body of the shirt.
2. (of a shirt) having a button-down collar.
3. (of a shirt) having buttons down the front from the collar to the bottom.
4. Also buttoned-down. (especially of attitudes, opinions, etc.) extremely conventional; unimaginative.

button-down

adjective

1. (of a collar) having points that are fastened to the garment with buttons
2. (of a shirt) having a button-down collar
3. Alsobuttoned-down conventional or conservative

   a button-down corporate culture

Word History and Origins

Origin of button-down¹

An Americanism dating back to 1930–35

Example Sentences

He got a hat, he stopped wearing a uniform, he started wearing a big belt buckle and button-down shirts and a flack vest.

From Salon

Sitting a few rows back from the stage in his signature light-blue button-down shirt, Ballmer clapped along with Mars’ peppy tune and happily received a round of back-slaps from the pals seated around him.

From Los Angeles Times

Rare is the book that can luxuriate in a discussion of Coppola’s taste for Charvet button-down shirts and how that related to her work on “Marie Antoinette.”

From Los Angeles Times

Taylor, his slim frame draped in a button-down shirt with a jazzy geometric print, offers historical details to guide the group discussion.

From Los Angeles Times

As the night progressed, some returned from work, with one man dressed in a button-down shirt and khakis finding solace in a cigarette, dragging it with a worn expression.

From Los Angeles Times